Portishead Town Council’s desire to increase its number of elected members has been dashed because only 29 voters wanted it to happen.

At the end of last year, the town council voted in favour of trying to increase its membership to 18.

It believed having a number of councillors divisible by six would be helpful to tally with North Somerset councillors. Having four more town councillors would have meant three members for every North Somerset councillor.

But, North Somerset insisted the town council provided evidence the people of Portishead wanted a larger town council and insisted a petition signed by 10 per cent of the electorate supporting the idea was produced.

However, only 29 people signed it, when a total of about 1,600 was required.

Town councillors felt having four more members would increase the authority’s diversity.